By Noora Ibrahim.
Benghazi, 21 September 2014:
A gunman who shot an army colonel in Benghazi’s Majuri district yesterday was himself shot and . . .[restrict]killed by an angry crowd after he tried to take cover in a local pharmacy. Omar Al Sangari, said to be a member of Ansar Al-Sharia, died in hail of gunfire when he left the pharmacy where he had taken cover, thinking that he was safe, local eyewitnesses told the Libya Herald. Earlier, Ansar members had tried to rescue him but fled when they were shot at by locals.
The saga, which took place early yesterday afternoon, is the first to directly link Ansar to Benghazi’s assassinations. It started when Sangari, who is alleged to have been a local drugs dealer turned hired killer for Ansar, attempted to murder an army colonel who was shot a number of times. He still alive in hospital.
Sangari was seen running from the scene of the crime and is said to have been shot in the hand by an armed local resident.
He then rushed into a local pharmacy, where he reportedly threatened to kill two female assistants if they did not help him. At the same time he managed to summon help from Ansar. They arrived in vehicles, waving the black Ansar flag and shooting. But at least 50 armed local residents also arrived on the scene and started firing back forcing the Ansar militiamen to flee.
There were then negotiations involving an elderly sheikh who went to the pharmacy. It is reported that he convinced Sangari that he would be able to leave and that no one would hurt him. Kissing him on his head, he told the gunman to leave. However, it appears that the decision either was not conveyed to the locals or they did not agree.
When Sanagri went out into the street, he was mowed down in a hail of bullets.
His body was taken to Benghazi Medical Centre.
Majouri residents say they are now expecting reprisals from Ansar but are well armed and will fight off any attack.
Today, meanwhile there were another two assassinations and an attempted assassination.
Emhemed Mohamed Kuwairi, a former member of Saiqa special forces, was shot outside his home in Hay Al-Salam district this morning. He was due to go on pilgrimage to Mecca tomorrow and is said to have been was carrying out last minute preparations.
In Hawari, late this afternoon, gunmen tried to kill Weaam Rashid Abdulla Al-Sameen, who is still a member of Saiqa. He was shot a number of times while in his car and taken to Marj Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition.
Later, this evening, Air Force Colonel Nasser Al-Obeidi was shot several times and killed as he was diving through Benghazi’s Islamist stronghold of Leithi. [/restrict]
